Learning by Doing: Exploring Forest–Atmosphere Interactions in Remote Amazonian Schools

The CloudRoots project investigates the continuum of processes linking photosynthesis, turbulence, and cloud formation, with a particular focus on forest ecosystems and, especially, the central Amazon rainforest. The project integrates comprehensive field experiments with high-resolution modelling approaches to explicitly resolve canopy processes, radiative transfer, and cloud–turbulence interactions. Beyond its core scientific objectives, CloudRoots has created a unique opportunity for the development of the CloudRoots Education initiative (EDU-CloudRoots). This initiative bridges fundamental research and educational outreach by engaging learners through hands-on activities and interactive modules that explore how terrestrial ecosystems—particularly tropical rainforests—interact with the overlying atmosphere. The project includes an online educational platform aligned with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education and ecosystem protection. The CloudRoots Education website (edu-cloudroots.wur.nl) is an interactive learning environment developed as part of the broader CloudRoots research programme led by Wageningen University & Research and funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), the Netherlands.

EDU-CloudRoots was designed to translate complex scientific concepts of land–atmosphere interactions into accessible and engaging learning experiences for young students, particularly children aged 5–12 years in Amazonian community schools, while also being adaptable to broader audiences interested in environmental science and ecosystem dynamics. The educational framework is structured around three core interactive strands—Go LOCAL, Go GLOBAL, and Go CONNECTED—each targeting specific scientific skills and levels of awareness. Go LOCAL focuses on direct observation and experimentation with the local environment, introducing students to simple tools and hands-on experiments that foster understanding of the atmosphere and vegetation surrounding them. Go GLOBAL broadens this perspective to the planetary scale through remote sensing data and visualizations, enabling learners to observe Earth from space and explore large-scale patterns in weather and vegetation. Go CONNECTED emphasizes the links between local and global systems through interactive games and conceptual exercises, allowing students to explore feedbacks between terrestrial ecosystems (forests, oceans, and human activities) and the atmosphere, thereby deepening their understanding of environmental connectivity.

Using this framework, the website helps learners understand how biological, physical, and atmospheric processes are interconnected across scales—from microscopic leaf-level functions to global climate dynamics. The platform promotes educational inclusion by offering resources suitable for both formal and informal learning environments, enabling teachers to introduce advanced environmental concepts through structured and age-appropriate activities. CloudRoots Education integrates interactive data visualizations with multimedia resources such as videos and animations, and currently provides bilingual support in English and Portuguese, with plans to expand language availability to further broaden accessibility. By making complex scientific research tangible and engaging, the platform fosters curiosity and environmental awareness among young learners. Through the connection of local observations with global patterns, it encourages students to appreciate the role of ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest in Earth’s climate system.